AN EXAMPLE OF WIDESPREAD CRACKING

Dean Wolstenholme Snr (1757-1837)
The Epping Forest Hunt
oil on canvas
Acc. No: 1587

Previous condition: The canvas was free of major losses, tears or distortions. However, the artist’s use of resins, balsams and wax to emulate the rich transparencies of the Old Masters had led to widespread drying cracks over the whole painting, especially in the dark areas. Some cracks were quite wide and had been filled with gypsum and overpainted. In a previous restoration, overcleaning had exposed some of the changes made by the artist, and these had been overpainted. The final varnish was heavily yellowed, and much dust and soot had accumulated between the canvas and the lower stretcher bar.

Current treatment: The dirt between the stretcher and canvas was removed and the wood of the stretcher was fed with wax. Using selected solvents, the yellowed varnish was removed. Removal of the old retouchings with an alkaline solution followed, exposing the earlier widespread filling of the cracks. These fillings were softened and mechanically removed. A layer of retouching varnish was then applied over the whole work with a brush. New fillings were applied to the deepest cracks. Once textured and sealed, they were retouched with reversible restorer’s colours. A final spray varnish, which does not yellow with age, completed the task. The front of the frame was cleaned and small losses replaced. These were retouched with gold. Finally, the back of the frame was waxed to feed the wood and the painting was secured in its frame.